Dr. Reddy’s Institute of Life Sciences (DRILS) has launched joint postdoctoral research programmes in collaboration with two premier national institutions — Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Hyderabad (TIFRH).

The partnerships were formalised through Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed by DRILS Director Dr. Srinivas Oruganti, CDFD Director Prof. Ullas Kolthur, and TIFRH Director Prof. M. Krishnamurthy here on Thursday.

The agreement with TIFRH specifically involves its Advanced Research Unit on Metabolism, Development and Ageing or ARUMDA — the country’s first dedicated multidisciplinary centre addressing the double burden of malnutrition, metabolic diseases, and aging.

This initiative aims to nurture exceptional postdoctoral talent in strategic areas of disease biology offering a platform to pursue cutting-edge, interdisciplinary work within a robust industry-academia framework. DRILS fellowship will empower researchers to conduct high-impact science within the world-class facilities of CDFD and TIFRH.

“Our greatest scientific challenges cannot be solved in isolation. Retaining our brightest young minds requires an ecosystem where academic curiosity and translational relevance converge — transforming individual potential into collective progress,” said Prof. Kolthur.

The current initiative is foundational to a broader effort to build an integrated research and innovation ecosystem of creating a ‘Bio-Innovation Park’ – a flagship project in Hyderabad aimed at clustering premier institutions, fostering public-private partnerships, and strengthening India’s scientific capabilities, he said.

“The postdoctoral programme exemplifies the collaborative spirit essential for such a bio-cluster,” said Dr. Oruganti.

Prof. Krishnamurthy described the pact as a “critical building block in positioning Hyderabad as a global hub for life sciences innovation,” according to a press release.